Carolyn E. P. Thomas

She was a spouse, teacher, Piper Cub pilot, magician, artist, craftswoman, seamstress, chef, business partner, and most importantly, a mother. She was Carolyn E. P. Thomas.Carolyn Thomas passed away June 29, 2011 in the early afternoon at Homme Home of Wittenberg.Carolyn was born on March 8, 1917, in her family's farmhouse outside of Ripon, WI. She was the youngest child of William F. and Mathilda Witt Page. She attended the one-room Arcade School and was a 1935 graduate of Ripon High School. She was an active 4-H member throughout her childhood and remained active in college as a member of the Blue Shield Club. Carolyn graduated from the University of Wisconsin - Madison with a degree in Home Economics in 1939. During her college career, she was a switchboard operator at Wisconsin General Hospital, played piano for dances at Memorial Union, and enjoyed attending Wisconsin Badger football and basketball games, and boxing matches. After graduation, she taught home economics for one year at Marion High School, and then at the Antigo Vocational School until her marriage to John G (Doc) Thomas, DVM, on March 19, 1942. She and her husband raised six children and operated his veterinary practice until John's death in September of 1976. In 1977, Carolyn resumed teaching as both a day to day and long term substitute teacher. Many students remember her by her ability to write backwards-upside down on the blackboard and the magic tricks she performed.Carolyn was an active member of the community. She was a member of Antigo United Methodist Church for over 70 years, which included serving on the building committee, the Board of Trustees, and playing piano for Sunday school. Carolyn also worked as an election poll worker for the city of Antigo and was a member in community organizations including the Antigo Women's Club.She enjoyed spending time with her family and friends, knitting, sewing, crocheting, baking, creating Christmas and Easter ornaments, music, candy making, playing bridge and other card games, dickering with vendors at flea markets, and many other arts and crafts.Carolyn was a humble, generous, and gracious woman with an extremely strong faith.Carolyn is survived by her daughter Linda (Tom) Jahnke of Antigo, and her sons; Roy (Karen) of Monroe, Bill (Nan) of Jacksonville, FL, Jim (Toni) of Antigo, Tom (Donna) of Shawano, and John of Antigo. Further surviving are her grandchildren; Sean (Alix) Thomas, Tara (Mark) Schluesche, Katie Thomas (Bob Hoesch), Deb (Ryan) Palacheck, Jeff (Angela) Thomas, Jaren (Jen) Thomas, Seth (Katie) Thomas, Nate Thomas, Sarah (Ryan) Pederson, Ben Thomas (Veronica Spangler), Amy Jahnke and Sarah Jahnke (Jeff Kuang), and her great grandchildren; Samantha and Josephine Thomas, Isaac and Jonathan Schluesche, Xander Thomas, Aaron Thomas, Harper Thomas, and Roxie Pederson. Also surviving are cousins, nieces and nephews.Services will be held at Antigo United Methodist Church Wednesday, July 6, 2011 at 10:30 AM. Reverend Charles Strong will be officiating. Visitation for Carolyn Thomas will be on Tuesday July 5, 2011 from 4:00 - 8:00 PM at the Strasser-Roller Funeral Home and at church at 9:30 AM to time of services. Burial will be at the Elmwood Cemetery.The Thomas family thanks everyone at Homme Home of Wittenberg for the competent, compassionate care that they showed Carolyn and her family these past two years.